"Uncle, you're getting on in years. Drinking too much is bad for your health, so you should take it easy. There's no rush—save the rest for later."

"What's the point of drinking alone? It's rare to have someone keep me company—how can I not drink to my heart's content!"

But Grant Clark didn't give him a chance to argue, snatching the little wine jar and filling his own bowl to the brim, then downing half of it in one go. Only then, his eyes bleary with drunkenness, did he say, "I never held back when I was young, and now that I'm old, what's the use of restraint? But you, Little Brian, you're in your prime—don't go throwing your life away. I've heard all about what you've been up to out there. Those riffraff and hooligans like Zhang San, Li Si, Wang Ermazi and the like—you're a good family's son, yet you mix with that sort, even giving them money to spend. Isn't that just being foolish? A ruined reputation is easy to get and hard to fix. You've read books—you should understand this better than I do."

Hearing this, Brian Clark couldn't help but give a wry smile. "You're right, Uncle. I suppose I've lived two lives now, and I realize how reckless I used to be—just young and foolish, didn't know any better..."

"As long as you understand. Those people are no good. Otherwise, you've been lying at home all these days—has a single one of them come to see you? Fair-weather friends can't be relied on. They'd sell you out for a bit of petty gain, and it wouldn't be surprising! Especially since you have no parents to depend on. Among the Clark clan in Taiping Lane, quite a few have been gossiping behind your back, saying you're not your father's real son. Aren't they just eyeing your family's property? That clan head of yours, the old master, is always greedy for every last scrap. The marriage your father arranged for you—he's jealous of that, let alone the things in your house. He'd probably be glad to see you dead. Only the sixth master, the one who's an official in Yingtian Prefecture, is said to be a decent man. But without a good reputation or talent, it's hard to catch his eye..."

Grant Clark was probably an old resident of Taiping Lane, and he rambled on about the affairs of the Clark clan. Brian Clark, who had been puzzled about many things, listened intently.

In the end, he noticed Grant Clark's words had become extremely slurred, and the man was gradually slumping over the stone table. Brian Clark turned to instruct Ryan Clark to clear away the food and wine, then went to help the man up himself. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't move the nearly fifty-year-old man, and in the end, he was the one left panting and out of breath, sitting down again. After a while, he finally stood up and gave Grant Clark a deep bow.

"Great kindness needs no thanks. Uncle, you saved my life and gave me advice. I have nothing to repay you with, so I'll just have to invite you to drink with me more often in the future!"

"Mm, drinking is good, drinking..."

Hearing Grant Clark mumble these words, Brian Clark knew he was completely drunk and couldn't help but laugh. At this moment, Ryan Clark still hadn't come out from inside. Standing in the courtyard, a gentle breeze blew over him, and the alcohol went to his head—he couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"One misstep brings a lifetime of regret; turn back and a hundred years have passed..."

"Young master, what are you muttering about!"

Seeing Ryan Clark come out, Brian Clark didn't answer, just told him to help Grant Clark inside. After settling the man, Ryan Clark came back out and urged him to go home, but he shook his head and sat back down on the stone bench.

"If you're worried about home, go check on things. I'll sit here a while longer."

Knowing how stubborn the young master could be, Ryan Clark hesitated for a long time but finally nodded. Before leaving, he couldn't help but explain, "Young master, only Sixth Brother King and Mrs. King are at home. I don't feel at ease. You rest here—I'll be back soon to fetch you!"

Brian Clark felt a twinge in his heart but only waved Ryan Clark off. Once he was gone, Brian Clark sighed softly. "One misstep and it's five hundred years. Heaven really does have eyes..."

Half drunk, he sat in the breeze for a while, feeling a bit dizzy. Just as he was about to get up and head home, he suddenly heard a loud bang from outside—the door to Grant Clark's little courtyard had been kicked open. Immediately after, two servants in livery burst in. Seeing Brian Clark, they paused for a moment, then one of them gave a sly, insincere smile and said, "So Seventh Young Master is here too. Perfect—my young master is outside and has a message for you."

Brian Clark vaguely remembered these two were servants from Elder Clark's household. Hearing this, he thought for a moment, then got up and left the courtyard. As soon as he stepped outside, he saw a young gentleman standing there, fanning himself.

Chapter Four: Ruthless Pursuit

"Well, isn't this Seventh Brother?"

Seeing it was Brian Clark, the young gentleman came over with a sly, insincere smile. Compared to Brian Clark's shabby appearance, he was dressed in a sky-blue silk robe, with a bit of jade inlaid in his headscarf—he certainly looked impressive. He appeared older and taller than Brian Clark, and there was even a slight resemblance in their features, though his eyes were often narrowed, giving him a more sinister look.

As he approached, he sneered, "I thought you'd have learned your lesson after suffering once, but here you are still mixing with such lowlifes. Birds of a feather really do flock together!"

He remembered this was Elder Clark's eldest son, Blake Clark, third in the family ranking. Brian Clark raised an eyebrow and replied with a half-smile, "If you think this place is so low, Third Brother, what are you doing here?"